Tank-strainer.



No. 793,017. PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905. J. MOAFEE.

TANK STRAINER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.13.1905.

P. I f mmmaj 1 gm}? P l w 722% Patented June 20, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH MGAFEE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PFNNSYLVANIA.

TANK-STRAINER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 793,017, dated June 20, 1905 Application filed April 13, 1905. Serial No. 255,330.

To 1/, IIIHHII/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn MCAFEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tan k-Strainers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tank-strainers, and belongs in the class of feed-water filters designed to be applied to the water-tanks of locomotive steam-engines.

The object of my invention is the production of a tank-strainer having special structural features and which may be readily steamcleaned while running.

It is also an object of my invention to construct a strainer embodying valve devices arranged to alternately shut off during the cleaning operation the water flowing from the tank and to close the discharge-outlet from the lilter, through which the refuse is blown away by the steam, as more particularly set forth in the following description.

1 attain the stated objects by fashioning and associating parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 represents a side view of my invention applied to a loeomotive-tm'lk and connected by hose with an injector. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of my invention on the line X X of Fig. 1.

The same number is used to refer to the same part throughout.

Upon the top of a locomotive-tank 1, and usually on that portion of the tank which is partitioned from the water-space by a bulkhead 2, I place an ordinary crank-hamlle 3, having a thumb-latch 4 engaging the notches in plate 6. The oflice of the thumb-latch is to prevent the accidental displacement of the handle 3 and corresponding movement of the valve, hereinafter described.

Handle is secured at the upper extremity of the rotatable rod 7, which passes downwardly through a suitable bearing 8, which may or may not be in the nature of a stuflingbox, provided the rod 7 is permitted to rotate and to be held vertically therein. Rod 7 is extended downwardly into the dry chamber cut ofl from the water-space, as described,

and is rigidly joined at its lower end to the interiorly-tlireaded sleeve 9. An oil-hole 10 at the top of sleeve will be observed.

Sleeve E) takes in the upper and threaded portion of the valve-rod 11. The remainder of the rod passes downwardly through the bottom of bulkhead 2 by way of stufling-box 12. Below the bottom of the bulkhead and in the lower part of the miter-space of the tank the valve-rod 11 extends through the head-block l?) of the conical strainer LT, that has a flange 15 resting upon a gasket 16, encircling the opening 17 through the bottom of tank 1. Immediately below the opening in the bottom of the tank is a second gasket 18, and against this rests the flange 19 of a globular casing 20, that incloses the cylindrical strainer 21 (see Fig. 2) and forms the strainor-chamber. The flange 19 is usually coextensive or substantially of the same diameter with the flange 15 of the conical strainer, and the same series of bolts 22 serves to secure those flanges upon the outside and inside of the bottom of the tank, asillustrated.

The cylindrical strainer 21 mentioned is secured in any chosen manner at its upper and lower ends to the exteriorly-tlu'eaded rings designated 23 and 24:. That strainer and the rings are usually permanently attached and are handled as one piece. The lower ring 24 has a flange 25. The rings are threaded, as stated, and engage the interiorly-threaded openings .26 and 27 at the top and bottom of the strainer-casing 20, thus holding the strainer 21 in its position. The ring 23 (the upper one) has formed integrally with it the spider 28, through the center of which the valve-rod passes, and it will here be noted that the lower portion of the valve-rod is squared and that the spider and the head-block 13 of the conical strainer are provided with square orifices in which the rod may be reciprocated vertieally.

The surfaces of the upper and lower rings 23 and 21 presented to the interior of the cylindrical strainer 21 are linished and form valve-seats 29 and 30 for the valve 31, which is suitably attached to the lower end of the valverod.

The strainer-casing 20 has an outlet 32 coupled to the customary tank-hose 33 and communicating by way of the feed-pipe with an injector 34:.

In the operation if while running the strainer becomes clogged or frozen up the overflow 35 of the injector is closed after valve 31 has been raised by turning the handle 3 until the outlet of the tank is stopped. Steam is blown back through strainer 21 and out of lower ring 24. This is continued until the strainer is thoroughly freed from dirt and ice, whereupon valve 31 is again lowered and closes the lower ring, permitting the water again to flow from the tank. That is the normal position of valve 31. The reason for squaring the lower portion of valve-rod 11 will now be apparent. It is to prevent it from rotating while being operated upon by the threaded sleeve 9 in raising or lowering the valve.

It will be observed that the circular area of the base of conical strainer 14 is larger than the opening throughthe upper ring 23 into the strainer 21.

I am aware that steam-cleaned strainers have heretofore been applied to the tanks of locomotives, and I do not claim that feature.

Having thus described my invention and explained the mode of its operation, what I claim is- 1. In a tank-strainer, the combination with a reciprocative valve, of a strainer having oppositely-disposed openings and annular valveseats situated at said openings, a strainer-casing, and valve-operating devices whereby the valve may be alternately seated in the said valve-seats.

2. In a tank-strainer, the combination with a reciprocative valve, of a strainer having oppositely-disposed openings and annular valveseats situated at said openings, a strainer-casing, asuperimposed strainer covering the upper month of said strainer casing, and valveoperating devices whereby the valve may be alternately seated in the said valve-seats.

3. In a tank-strainer, the combination with a reciprocative valve, of a strainer having oppositely-disposed openings, a strainer-casing having oppositely-disposed openings interiorly threaded, rings threaded exteriorly and en gaging the openings of said casing, the said rings being connected with the said strainer at its said openings and having valve-seats presented toward the inside, of the strainer, and valve operating devices whereby the valve may be alternately seated in said valveseats.

4. In a tank-strainer, the combination with a strainer-casing having openings provided with valve-seats, the said casing having also an outlet adapted for connection with a tankhose, of a strainer interposed between the said openings of the casing and its said outlet, means including valve devices whereby the said openings of the casing may be alternately closed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH MCAFEE.

WVitnesses:

JAMns L. SAVAGE, WILLIAM E. KEYLoR. 

